Florida State defense fueled by last year's loss to Florida

Florida State defender Telvin Smith remembers last year's loss to Florida. “A lot of us players were on that field,” FSU senior linebacker Telvin Smith said. “So we feel that. We feel that pain. We’re definitely going to tote that with us, but we’re not going to shape this game around what was said.”(Photo: Melina Vastola, USA TODAY Sports)

It wasn't just the final score that they remember. Or the rushing yards they allowed.

There were those comments, too. The ones that came from the visitor's locker room after Florida rushed for 244 yards in last year's 37-26 win against Florida State.

"We had a lot of confidence coming in here that we could run the football," Florida head coach Will Muschamp said after the game. "We've run it well vs. everybody. We've run it well vs. better defenses."

It's been a full year since that bitter loss for the Seminoles. They have won 13 in a row since the defeat and are currently No. 2 in the nation. The Gators are 4-8 since and are a 27-point underdog on Saturday. At home.

All year long Florida State has shown the ability to not overlook any opponent, no matter how big the point spread is. The Seminoles haven't been in the habit of taking teams lightly. And with what happened last year, the Gators certainly have their attention.

"A lot of us players were on that field," FSU senior linebacker Telvin Smith said. "So we feel that. We feel that pain. We're definitely going to tote that with us, but we're not going to shape this game around what was said."

But they do remember. Not just what was said, but even more so how the game was lost. The Seminoles had one of the best defenses in the country in 2012, but allowed a season-high 244 yards rushing to the Gators — including 140 to tailback Mike Gillislee.

After coming back to take the lead in the third quarter, Florida State allowed 24 straight points in the fourth to suffer its second loss of the season.

"Especially playing defensive line. That's kind of like a slap in the face when somebody just runs the ball up and down the field on you. ... They just came in and beat us at home. That really hurt.

"I still remember the pain and what it felt like. That's what kind of fuels me to not let it happen again."

He and his teammates know that's precisely what Florida is hoping to do. The Gators have struggled all year offensively. And the passing game has been almost completely inept.

But their system is predicated on trying to run the football. A lot. And the Seminoles know what's coming on Saturday in the Swamp.

"They're going to be physical," FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said.

Just like they were in 2012.

"It's something that has driven us this whole season," Smith said.

"Something that we fed off of going into the summer and everything like that. We've been using it as drive, but we've got to understand this is a new team. We've got our own purpose, our own life to live, and I feel like that's what we're going to do."

Said sophomore defensive end Mario Edwards: "What they did last year doesn't really affect us. We know what we can do this year. We're going to go out there, respect our opponent, but we're going to give them a good game.

"They feel like if they're running they're going to beat our defense. We just have to play like we've been playing."

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